Giratina first appeared in the {{chap|Diamond & Pearl}} after the battle on the Spear Pillar, where its tentacles emerged from the Distortion World to drag {{p|Dialga}}, {{p|Palkia}}, and [[Cyrus]] into its home. Later, it came to the real world to wreak havoc in [[Eterna City]]. With the help of {{p|Regigigas}} and {{p|Rotom}}, Diamond and Pearl managed to drive it back inside, but Diamond was hurt and sent to the Distortion World in the process.

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Giratina first appeared in the {{chap|Diamond & Pearl}} after the battle on the Spear Pillar, where its tentacles emerged from the [[Distortion World]] to drag {{p|Dialga}}, {{p|Palkia}}, and [[Cyrus]] into its home. Later, it came to the real world to wreak havoc in [[Eterna City]]. With the help of {{p|Regigigas}} and {{p|Rotom}}, Diamond and Pearl managed to drive it back inside, but Diamond was hurt and sent to the Distortion World in the process.

In the Distortion world, Giratina got into a huge battle between several other legendary Pokémon, along with {{p|Heatran}} and {{p|Darkrai}} on Charon's side. When the battle was going in the enemies' favor, Charon had Giratina escape to the real world, only to be defeated by a Draco Meteor used by Cynthia and her Garchomp. Defeated, Giratina left to the Distortion World, but gave up its plans to get revenge on Dialga and Palkia.

In the Distortion world, Giratina got into a huge battle between several other legendary Pokémon, along with {{p|Heatran}} and {{p|Darkrai}} on Charon's side. When the battle was going in the enemies' favor, Charon had Giratina escape to the real world, only to be defeated by a Draco Meteor used by Cynthia and her Garchomp. Defeated, Giratina left to the Distortion World, but gave up its plans to get revenge on Dialga and Palkia.

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Later in {{chap|HeartGold & SoulSilver}} the {{tc|Executive|Rocket Executive}}s use {{p|Arceus}}' power to create replications of the [[creation trio|three dragons of Sinnoh]], but theyaredestroyedbeforetheycanmaterialize.

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It is shown in {{chap|HeartGold & SoulSilver}} how Giratina was brought back to life. The {{tc|Executive|Rocket Executive}}s used {{p|Arceus}}' power to create the [[creation trio|three dragons of Sinnoh]]. Remembering its past conflict in the ancient past, Giratina battles Dialga and Palkia but withthehelpof{{adv|Giovanni}}, [[Lance]] and [[Pryce]], the two manage to send Giratina back into theDistortionWorld.

While it is not known to evolve to or from any other Pokémon, it has a second forme activated by giving Giratina a Griseous Orb to hold. Its original forme, Altered Forme, will then become Origin Forme.

Giratina's Origin Forme was officially revealed in early February of 2008.

Biology

Physiology

As first revealed by Japan's CoroCoro Magazine, Giratina has two forms. The first (Altered Forme) is the form that appeared in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. In this form, Giratina has a large, gray, centipede-like body with six short, thick legs. Its legs have gold claws and gold bands on them. It has a tail and a thick black stripe running vertically along the front of its body. There is a series of red horizontal stripes running across the large black one. Three gold half-rings circle the back half of Giratina's neck at the same points that three of the red stripes are at on its front, resembling a ribcage. On its back are two large, black wings that are decorated with red, conical objects that also could be claws. The wings seem oddly out of place, due to the fact that Giratina seems far too heavy to fly effectively. The wings also seem to be ghostly, as they can change shape as if they were made of a liquid or gas.

Giratina's head and eyes resemble those of Dialga and Palkia, causing many to theorize that it was related to the two even before it was confirmed in Pokémon Platinum.

The second is a new Origin Forme which made its debut in Giratina and the Sky Warrior. It uses this form when traveling through dimensions other than ours, such as the Distortion World, its home. The form-altering is triggered by a change of gravity. This form is more serpentine than Giratina's Altered Forme. The Origin Forme of Giratina has six black, ghostly streamers on its back that each have a bright red spike at the end. Its mouth is hidden by the head plates, which swing open sideways when the mouth is opening. Giratina's legs have been reduced to spike-like protrusions. There are four more golden spikes near the edge of the tail. The three gold half-rings in this form can be used to grip objects. This version of Giratina also appears in Pokémon Platinum, and can be activated outside of the Distortion World if it is holding a Griseous Orb.

Gender differences

Giratina is a genderless species.

Special abilities

Giratina is able to travel through and control dimensions besides those of time and space. When in its Origin Forme, it is able to pass through dimensions at will, however, it will turn back to its Altered Forme due to the gravity change from the Reverse World. It does so by emitting a whirlwind from its mouth which creates a portal.

It also seems to have a connection to reflective objects, such as mirrors and pools of water. Reflections embody the concept of the Reverse World.

As to be expected with other Ghost-type Pokémon, Giratina is capable of using Ghost, Dark, Psychic and Electric attacks. Unlike other Dragon Pokémon, Giratina lacks the ability to wield Ice- and Fire-type attacks (save for Will-O-Wisp and Icy Wind, which most Ghost types learn anyway). Giratina is one out of seven Pokémon that is capable of using Aura Sphere. Since Giratina is a "true" Dragon Pokémon, it is also capable of using Draco Meteor.

In Platinum, Giratina can transform to its Origin Forme by equipping the Griseous Orb. If the orb is unequipped in battle, it goes back to Altered Forme. The Origin Forme has higher offensive stats while the Altered Forme has higher defenses. Since Giratina's Origin Forme (and the Griseous Orb, for that matter) is exclusive to Platinum, Black and White, or HeartGold and SoulSilver via event, when it is traded to Diamond or Pearl it will revert back to its Altered Forme, and the Griseous Orb it was holding goes back into the player's bag.

Behavior

Judging by the events in Pokémon Platinum and Giratina and the Sky Warrior, its portrayal in ancient folklore, and its Platinum Pokédex entry, it's assumed that Giratina is a highly aggressive and territorial Pokémon protective of its home. It should be noted that despite the legends depicting it in a more evil light than the others in its trio, Giratina arrived at the Spear Pillar to save the world from Cyrus' attempted apotheosis; though it may have arrived to protect its own world from destruction.

Diet

In the anime

Major appearances

Giratina made its debut in Giratina and the Sky Warrior. In the movie, Giratina ambushes and drags Dialga into the Reverse World in order to exact revenge against the Temporal Pokémon for causing damage to its home during its fight with Palkiasome time before. Zero also attempts to copy Giratina's powers in order to take control over the Reverse World. Throughout the movie, Giratina takes on its Origin Forme whenever it is in the Reverse World, and its Altered Forme whenever it is in the real world.

In the Arceus and the Jewel of Life manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Giratina first appeared in the Diamond & Pearl chapter after the battle on the Spear Pillar, where its tentacles emerged from the Distortion World to drag Dialga, Palkia, and Cyrus into its home. Later, it came to the real world to wreak havoc in Eterna City. With the help of Regigigas and Rotom, Diamond and Pearl managed to drive it back inside, but Diamond was hurt and sent to the Distortion World in the process.
In the Distortion world, Giratina got into a huge battle between several other legendary Pokémon, along with Heatran and Darkrai on Charon's side. When the battle was going in the enemies' favor, Charon had Giratina escape to the real world, only to be defeated by a Draco Meteor used by Cynthia and her Garchomp. Defeated, Giratina left to the Distortion World, but gave up its plans to get revenge on Dialga and Palkia.

Giratina has the highest HP stat of all legendary Pokémon. However, it is outmatched by several non-legendary Pokémon.

In its Origin Forme, Giratina has the most resistances and immunities of all non-Steel-type Pokémon, excluding Shedinja.

In Platinum, Giratina is the only Pokémon to come out from above the screen during the start of the battle. Also, it does not have a shadow until it uses Shadow Force or breaks out of a Poké Ball.

In interviews Junichi Masuda and Takeshi Kawachimaru did for G4, it was said that Giratina and its Distortion World were created to be personifications of antimatter; this is also stated in HeartGold and SoulSilver by Cynthia.

Giratina is the only Pokémon that appears last in a regional Pokédex listing that is not an event-exclusive Pokémon.

It is the only legendary Pokémon that can be caught in all five of the Generation IV main series handheld games.

When encountered in Platinum, the game reads "The Distortion World's Giratina appeared", but it is still a wild Pokémon. It is the only Pokémon to do this.

Origin

Giratina is possibly based on a basilisk. In the Altered Forme, the wings may be based on a bat's, and its body has an insect-like, six-legged feature, but its posture is similar to a sauropod. Its Origin Forme has a body similar to a serpent, while the six protrusions on its body may be based on a scorpion's stinger. However this Forme also shares physical traits with the Amphitere, a European dragon-like creature with wings but no legs.